Presence of crystalline lens as a protective factor for the late development of open angle glaucoma after vitrectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the late development of open angle glaucoma (OAG) after vitrectomy and to compare the rate of postvitrectomy OAG development in phakic and pseudophakic eyes.


METHODS
Retrospective case series of 101 eyes of 101 patients who had vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane or idiopathic macular hole with a follow-up duration of more than 6 months. Eligible patients were assessed for new development of OAG during the follow-up period. Patients were separated into two groups based on the lens status at the end of the vitrectomy for statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up duration was 51 months (range, 6-80 months). Of the 101 eyes, 8 (7.9%) eyes developed OAG during the follow-up period. Phakic eyes were less likely to develop OAG after vitrectomy compared with pseudophakic eyes, with 2% and 13%, respectively (log-rank test, P = 0.025). The result remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, refractive error and the use of gas tamponade (adjusted odds ratio = 0.09, P = 0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of the crystalline lens may be protective against the late development of OAG after vitrectomy.
Luk
Fiona O J
FO
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The People's Republic of China. fiona_luk@yahoo.com
Kwok
Alvin K H
AK
Lai
Timothy Y Y
TY
Lam
Dennis S C
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000150:complications; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014794:Visual Fields; D014821:Vitrectomy